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Posted: 05 Dec 2006, 08:55
by Heartbreak_Kid79
Top 10 rather than top 3.
Obviously you wouldn't expect a prime Ali to lose to Frazier and Norton.
I think Ali was a spent fighter by 1975- the final fight with Frazier took everything out of him.
Wish he would have retired after that fight.
Posted: 05 Dec 2006, 10:00
by The Great John L
Ali’s physical skills were slightly eroded during his second career, but I think you could make a decent case for him being more creative, tougher and maybe even being a better all around fighter during the first few years of his second career. Certainly his accomplishments during the 70’s are much more noteworthy than his accomplishments during the 60’s, when his natural physical abilities were better.
As to whether or not the younger Ali would have lost to Frazier and Norton; no one really knows, but certainly Frazier’s skills and especially his relentless style would have been a difficult fight for any version of Ali. I rate Ali as the #1 HW of al time, and Louis 2nd. If I was ranking the 70’s Ali only, I’d probably simply switch places and put Louis #1 and Ali #2.